BURSTMax Milne came into the Pro Climbing League (PCL) London 2026 competition as the wildcard, and left having beaten seven of the world’s best boulderers to take the win. With his bouncy, dynamic style and knack for finding unexpected beta, Milne brings a fresh energy to bouldering. From explosive moves to creative hand and foot jams, he climbed with an energy that kept the crowd and his competitors guessing.
“I was very much in it for the show, getting the crowd hyped up, and trying to create a storyline on the stage, as well as trying to win,” Milne said about the PCL. He admits that performing in front of an audience brings out something different in him: “Sometimes that’s harder for me, because I prefer to show off when everyone’s watching, not when it’s just me.” For Milne, the spectacle is part of the sport. “But it’s more fun when your friends or families are in the crowd and there’s big energy, isn’t it?”
About the style of the PCL, Milne said: “It’s the first-ever PCL, so I didn’t know what to expect. The head-to-head format is like combining climbing with UFC fighting. It’s not like we’re going to scrap, but you’re going against your opponent. In traditional competitions, it’s just you and the boulder. Here, you’re on the exact same boulder, on the same wall, going head-to-head. You fall off, then see the other person get higher than you, and you’re thinking, ‘I’ve only got two more minutes to get past their high point.'”
Looking ahead, Milne has his sights set on the biggest stage in climbing. Having come close to qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games, he knows the road to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will be difficult, particularly with the depth of talent in the British team. Still, his ambition is clear: “But yeah, the main focus is winning a World Cup this year, then being in good standing for LA. That’s the big dream.”
Watch as he takes on some of the sport’s elite climbers in the film below, proving he belongs at the sharp end of competitive climbing. As the PCL noted in a press release: “This is the Pro Climbing League at its best: fresh talent, big moves and no guarantees.”
In 2027 Pro Climbing League heads to three major cities for our first full season. Berlin in January, Paris in February and London in March. “The biggest names in climbing return to compete in an improved format to provide more climbing, more action, and more drama.”
How Max Milne Won
The post “Like Combining Climbing With UFC,” Says Winner of New Competition appeared first on Gripped Magazine.